Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

The Ox knows his Owner, and the Ass his Masters Crib, but Israel doth not know, my People do not consider. The Ox knows his Owner that Pastures him, and the Ass his Master that feeds him; but Man is not so good as to be like to them, but so bad as to be inferior to them: He forgets him that sustains him, and spurns at him, instead of valuing him for the benefits conferred by him. How horrible is it, that God should loose more by his Bounty, than he would do by his Patrimony? If we had Blessings more sparingly, we should remember him more gratefully. If he had sent us a bit of Bread in a distress by a Miracle, as he did to Elijah by the Ravens, it would have stuck longer in our memories, but the sense of daily favours soonest wears out of our minds, which are as great Miracles as any in their own Nature, and the products of the same Power; But the wonder they should beget in us, is obscured by their frequency.

The Ox knows his Owner, and the Ass his Masters Crib, but Israel doth not know, my People do not consider. The Ox knows his Owner that Pastures him, and the Ass his Master that feeds him; but Man is not so good as to be like to them, but so bad as to be inferior to them: He forgets him that sustains him, and spurns at him, instead of valuing him for the benefits conferr'd by him. How horrible is it, that God should loose more by his Bounty, than he would do by his Patrimony? If we had Blessings more sparingly, we should remember him more gratefully. If he had sent us a bit of Bread in a distress by a Miracle, as he did to Elijah by the Ravens, it would have stuck longer in our memories, but the sense of daily favours soonest wears out of our minds, which are as great Miracles as any in their own Nature, and the products of the same Power; But the wonder they should beget in us, is obscur'd by their frequency.

2. The Goodness of God is contemned by an impatient murmuring. Our repinings proceed from an inconsideration of Gods free liberality, and an ungrateful temper of Spirit. Most Men are guilty of this. 'Tis implied in the commendation of Job under his Pressures;^*